Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Tuesday night that arrests are imminent following the outrageous anti-ICE protest that disrupted a Sunday morning church service in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Speaking on Newsmax, Noem confirmed that federal law enforcement is moving quickly and that arrests tied to the mob action at Cities Church will begin “in the next several hours.” The protest, which involved shouting down worshipers and accusing a pastor of being affiliated with ICE, was live-streamed by ex-CNN anchor Don Lemon — who may now face legal consequences himself.
Don Lemon Under Scrutiny
Noem pointed to Lemon’s prior knowledge and coordination with activists as potential grounds for prosecution. “He conducted surveillance before the event. He knew the activists personally. And then this was all blasted out on the Black Lives Matter website,” Noem explained. “That’s not journalism. That’s participation.”
Arrests coming.
This weekend an anti-ICE mob targeted a church, emboldened by the reckless rhetoric from Minnesota’s sanctuary politicians and the media.
The First Amendment protects speech and peaceful assembly – not rioting.
This administration is committed to upholding… pic.twitter.com/rBlFFiFe7U
— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) January 20, 2026
Lemon had embedded himself with the protestors under the claim of being a journalist, but his own admission that he knew what was about to happen — and had identified who was involved — may undermine any legal shield he hoped to have.
Justice Department Building Its Case
The Trump administration’s Department of Justice, under Civil Rights Division head Harmeet Dhillon, has been spearheading the federal response. Dhillon made clear that the activists violated the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE Act), which protects the rights of individuals to attend religious services without obstruction or harassment.
“This clearly meets the threshold for FACE Act violations,” Dhillon said earlier this week. “You cannot storm into a church, disrupt worship, and intimidate attendees. The only question now is who was involved, and what additional crimes may have been committed.”
A Message to Extremist Protesters
The Cities Church protest was reportedly organized by radical groups including Black Lives Matter Twin Cities and the Racial Justice Network. Protesters chanted “ICE out of Minnesota” and “Justice for Renee Good” — referring to a woman fatally shot by an ICE officer after allegedly trying to run him over with her car.
Noem made it clear that Sunday’s protest was a breaking point. “People will be brought to justice,” she said. “Nobody has a right to violate the law, disrupt peaceful worship, and put others in fear.”
As tensions continue to rise in Minneapolis and across Minnesota, Noem’s strong response signals that the Trump administration is not backing down — and will not allow far-left mobs to hijack houses of worship for political stunts.
The post Kristi Noem: Arrests Imminent After Anti-ICE Mob Storms Minnesota Church appeared first on Real News Now.
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